Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Additional Car Free Space Coming To Union Square Park North

Looking west along 17th Street near Union Square's north end, which the city has proposed converting to a pedestrian mall with restricted car traffic. (Getty Images)

MANHATTAN

Union Square may be Manhattan’s next pedestrian-friendly crossroads to see beach chairs replace BMWs under a new plan to create a car-free plaza off the square, according to DNAinfo.

The city planned to unveil a plan Monday that would eliminate most vehicular traffic near the northern end of the bustling downtown park and pavilion, replacing cars with walkable pedestrian malls similar to those in Times Square and Herald Square.

The proposal would limit through traffic on two blocks north of Union Square — E. 17th Street from Broadway to Park Avenue, and Broadway from E. 18th to E. 17th streets — and install street furniture on the retail-rich stretches, reports stated.

Vehicles heading south down Broadway would be forced to make a left turn at 18th Street, though a single lane would remain open for cars seeking to loop around from 18th Street, the New York Times reported.

A lone lane on 17th Street would also stay open for westbound traffic, and the plan includes dedicated space for bike lanes and pedestrian walkways.

The Times said the project could be completed as early as Labor Day.

"We are extremely pleased that the Department of Transportation has taken a hard look at the pedestrian and traffic congestion issues in the area, and proposed improvements that incorporate all of our areas of concern," said Jennifer Falk, executive director of the Union Square Partnership, the area business improvement district.

"We look forward to hearing feedback as the agency continues with its outreach to the various stakeholders in the area."

Advocates for the use of Union Square as a public space said they would support the project as long it remains free of commercial interests.

Croft explained that a similar attempt to restrict traffic on the same blocks more than two decades ago failed when local business owners came out against the plan because of the possible impact it would have had on retail operations.